Dianthus plant named ‘KLEDG22997’

ABSTRACT

A new Dianthus plant designated ‘KLEDG22997’ particularly distinguished by double purple flowers with purple centers, very early flowering, and an upright plant habit is disclosed.

Genus and species: Dianthus allwoodii.

Variety denominations: ‘KLEDG22997’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Dianthus, botanically known as Dianthus cultivars, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEDG22997’. ‘KLEDG22997’ originated from a naturally-occurring, whole plant mutation from the Dianthus parent ‘KLEDG12163’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,707) in June 2018 in The Netherlands.

In September 2018, ‘KLEDG22997’ was first vegetatively propagated by vegetative stem cuttings in Stuttgart Germany, and subsequently in Latina, Italy. ‘KLEDG22997’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation in Stuttgart, Germany and Latina, Italy via vegetative stem cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of ‘KLEDG22997’ when grown under normal horticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. Pink flowers with purple centers;     -   2. Very early flowering; and     -   3. An upright plant habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Dianthus plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph of a 30-week-old plant taken in May 2019 and grown in a greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photograph is a whole plant photo of ‘KLEDG22997’ and shows the foliage, buds, and flowers.

DESCRIPTION

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLEDG22997’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Stuttgart, Germany. Data was collected in May 2019 on 7-month-old plants grown in a plastic greenhouse. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Caryophyllaceae.         -   Botanical.—Dianthus cultivars.         -   Common.—Pot carnation.         -   Designation.—‘KLEDG22997’. -   Parentage: Mutation parent ‘KLEDG12163’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.     24,707). -   Plant:     -   -   Propagation type.—Vegetative cuttings via stem, terminal             cuttings.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—10 to 14 days.         -   Root description.—Fine roots, young roots are RHS 161D             (Greyed-Yellow), mature roots are RHS 199C (Greyed-Brown).         -   Rooting habit shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Plant form.—Upright.         -   Plant height.—15 cm to 17 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—22 cm to 25 cm. -   Lateral branches/stems:     -   -   Shape of the branch in cross-section.—Circular.         -   Hollowness of the branch.—Absent.         -   Length.—7 cm to 10 cm.         -   Diameter.—4 cm to 7 cm.         -   Internode length.—2 cm to 3 cm.         -   Internode quantity per branch.—3 to 5.         -   Number of internodes per branch/stem.—3 to 5.         -   Node length.—0.2 cm to 0.4 cm.         -   Node diameter.—0.2 cm to 0.4 cm.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—RHS 146B (Yellow-Green).         -   Flower clustering on the lateral branch.—In some lateral             branches. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Length.—4 cm to 5 cm.         -   Width.—0.3 cm to 0.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth.         -   Cross-section of the leaf.—Moderately concave.         -   Curvature of the leaf.—Absent.         -   Glaucosity of the leaf.—Medium.         -   Leaf color (both immature and mature).—Upper surface: RHS             138A (Green) for immature and RHS 137A (Green) for mature.             Lower surface: RHS 138A (Green) for immature and RHS 137A             (Green) for mature.         -   Venation pattern.—Absent. -   Flowers:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Semi-double, small sprays, round.         -   Fragrance.—Present.         -   Position of the flowers compared to the foliage of the             plant.—Moderately above.         -   Profile of both the upper and lower part in the lateral             view.—Convex.         -   Diameter of the flower.—2.0 cm to 2.5 cm.         -   Natural flowering season.—Spring to autumn.         -   Number of flowers per spray.—3 to 5.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—14 to 18 days. -   Buds:     -   -   Length.—0.5 cm to 1.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.3 cm to 0.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Color.—RHS 138A (Green).         -   Extrusion of the styles at the bud stage.—Absent. -   Corolla:     -   -   Quantity of petals and arrangement.—7 to 13 and arranged in             several whorls.         -   Corolla height.—0.8 cm to 1.5 cm.         -   Petal length.—1.8 cm to 2.5 cm.         -   Petal width.—1.0 cm to 1.5 cm.         -   Petal shape.—Spoon-shaped.         -   Petal apex.—Obtuse.         -   Petal base.—Acute.         -   Petal margin.—Serrated.         -   Depth of petal margin.—Shallow.         -   Petal texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth.         -   Petal color (both immature and mature).—Upper surface: RHS             68A (Red-Purple) with RHS 72A (Red-Purple) center. Lower             surface: RHS 75C (Purple).         -   Macule.—Present; 1.5 cm to 1.8 cm wide and RHS 72A             (Red-Purple).         -   Calyx.—Quantity of sepals and arrangement: Composed of 5             sepals. Longitudinal axis of the lobes of the calyx:             Concave. Shape: Campanulate. Calyx height: 0.8 cm to 1.5 cm.             Calyx diameter (at the apex): 0.4 cm to 0.6 cm. Sepal             texture (both upper and lower surfaces): Smooth. Sepal             color: Upper surface: RHS 137A (Green). Lower surface: RHS             137D (Green).         -   Position of the outer lobes of the epicalyx in relation to             the calyx.—Adpressed and free.         -   Apex shape of the outer lobes of the epicalyx.—Short             acuminate.         -   Tip length of the outer lobes of the epicalyx.—0.2 cm.         -   Apex shape of the inner lobes of the epicalyx.—Short             acuminate.         -   Tip length of the inner lobes of the epicalyx.—0.1 cm. -   Peduncles:     -   -   Length.—5 cm to 8 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.         -   Strength.—Moderate.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—RHS 146B (Yellow-Green). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Quantity per flower: Moderate. Filament length: 0.5             cm to 0.8 cm. Filament color: RHS 157B (Green-White). Anther             length: 0.1 cm. Anther diameter: 0.05 cm. Anther color: RHS             155B (White). Pollen amount: None observed.         -   Pistils.—Not observed. -   Fruit and seed set: Sometimes observed but no information is     available. -   Disease and pest/insect resistance: No disease and pest/insect     resistance observed.

COMPARISON OF ‘KLEDG22997’ WITH PARENTAL LINE AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEDG22997’ is distinguished from the mutation parent as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Line Mutation Parent Characteristic ‘KLEDG22997’ ‘KLEDG12163’ Main flower color RHS 68A RHS 75B (Purple) (Red-Purple) Secondary flower color RHS 72A RHS 71A (Red-Purple) (Red-Purple) Flower color pattern Bi-color Bi-color

‘KLEDG22997’ can be compared to the commercial Dianthus variety ‘KLEDG18305’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,019). Differences between the varieties are described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘KLEDG22997’ ‘KLEDG18305’ Flower type Double Single Flower color Pink with purple centers Pink with purple ring Flowering time Very early; around 195 Early-medium; around days after potting (cold 205 days after potting cultivation) (cold cultivation) 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Dianthus plant designated ‘KLEDG22997’ as illustrated and described herein. 